every strings

PROLOGUE

"May manliligaw ka na ba, ate?" tanong ng kababatang kapatid ko. Nakahilata ito sa higaan ko na para bang siya ang may ari nito.

I sigh as I scan my to-do list for today, ignoring his question. Hindi talaga ako pinapatahimik ng kapatid ko.

"Wag ka munang tumanggap ng manliligaw, te. Ang bata bata mo pa, " he remarked. Seryoso ang mukha nito.

"Jae, what if magiging tutor ako?" tanong ko. I want to hear his opinion. For some, it's kinda useless to ask opinions daw but for me, I like hearing others' perspectives, but in the end, it's my choice to follow.

"Ikaw? wag na. Baka masakal mo yung tinuturuan mo" sabi nito kaya inirapan ko nalang. I'm expecting reliable opinion pa naman.

Tsss

Dahil sa wala nang mapag usapan, may pumagitnang katahimikan sa'min. So, I started doing my schoolwork instead.

"Labas na muna ako, 'te" sambit nito, and I responded it by nodding.

Narinig ko ang pintoan nag sarado. Clearly means he's out. Kaya mas nanaig ang katahimikan sa aking kwarto, and I like it. This way, I can study well.

I'm in my 2nd year college taking BSBA - Major in Financial Management. I had this whole plan with me since Senior High School, where I'll be taking this course, and after that, I will work in the bank, but I won't make this work as my permanent source of income-this will be just my side job, where I will earn a money from it and then I'll proceed on my main thing wherein I'll be entering the business world-where I'm not the employee.

"Ate, tutugtog kami mamaya. Makakanood ka ba?" my younger brother asked.

Nagulat ako, shocks.

As I do my notes in FIMA, I'm thinking if I can go. I have a lot of things to do, I don't know if I can make it. On the other hand, napapaisip ako that I haven't taken any break yet.

"Next time, knock the door before you open it, okay? and yes, makakapunta ako. What time ba? at saan?"

He smiled as he punched the air like he was the happiest person alive. "Mamayang 6 pm pa naman, sabay tayo. You can take your time. Thank you, Ate! You're the best!"

Tumango lang ako and continue doing my task.

As we both grow up, we learn how to love music. He's into guitar, and I'm into singing. Minsan pag may oras kaming dalawa ay tinuturuan niya ako paano mag gitara. I know a few basic chords, but I'm having a hard time because of my fingers. Sabi niya ay kahit hindi mahaba mga daliri mo, you can still able to perform the chords well, but I don't believe him.

••

"Ate, ba't ka naman nag dala ng mga school works mo? Alam mo ba kung saan tayo pupunta?" naka simangot na sambit nito habang nag dri-drive siya papunta sa Gig nila.

"Saan ba?" tanong ko.

"Sa Restau Bar, Ate! At plano mo pa talagang gumawa ng schoolwork doon?" he began to pout like a child na parang kinuhanan ng lollipop.

"Okay. I'll leave these papers here in your car. Sorry, little brother. " I smirked, and he frowned as a reply. What? It's true naman. I'm a year older kaya.

Although nag sabi ako na I'll take a break from all my tasks, I just can't help but bring it with me. It feels so wrong kapag nag pahinga ako.

"I want you to watch my performance, ate"

As we enter the restau bar, the atmosphere changes. It's full of people, but it's not that loud. I wonder why. Usually ang napapasokan kong restau bars ay mostly loud talaga. Maybe this one is different.